Wallander Series 1 and 2-anybody have it yet?

[McCrutchy]

So, I just had my first experience with the BBC Series of Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh. Essentially, I downloaded the first episode, "Sidetracked" on iTunes US (Amazon.com only has Series 1 on DVD) and this is one enthralling show.

I should state that I've never read any of the novels and I haven't seen any of the Swedish films/TV series, and the interesting thing is that it seems many Swedish people think the BBC Wallander is a "better" show than at least their own current version.

BBC/2 entertain did release Series 1 and 2 on Blu-ray (and DVD) in February, day-and-date with the Series 2 DVD premiere, and judging from the "HD" version on iTunes, this should be incredible in 1080p. I've already ordered the BD (£30.56 sans VAT which is kind of with the exchange rate) and now I'm fighting a losing battle not to download another one of the first series from iTunes.

Does anyone else have the Blu-ray? Is anybody else a fan of the series, (British or Swedish)?

Also, I see that this has 50Hz content, so is that a screen/menu or are the episodes also 1080i/50?

[HotRats]

I've been a fan of the books since Faceless Killers, I've even bought the lettered Scorpion Press editions of two of them, and I have to say I was disappointed with the BBC adaptations. The appeal the books have for me is that the crimes are solved by methodical hard work from the entire team, this gets lost in the TV versions which focus on the main character and are too short to get the full scope of the books. I didn't like Branagh who seems to burst into tears on a regular basis when the character in the books is simply an overworked middle aged man trying to come to terms with the changes in his country, I also found it weird seeing Swedish road signs etc with a cast speaking English. The BBC's tightness also saw them miss out the novels that would have been too expensive to film like White Lioness and The Dogs Of Riga. If I didn't like the books so much I'd probably have enjoyed the TV series more as its stylishly filmed and well acted.

The Swedish TV Wallander has long since left behind any real connection with the books but they are well acted, have decent stories and Krister Henriksson is excellent in the title role, you can get them from http://www.discshop.se/shop/search_s...&sok_typ=titel but only some of the second series is subtitled as they are still waiting for foreign licensing.

The next foreign detective the BBC is tackling is Aurelio Zen the subject of a truly great series of books by English author Michael Dibdin. Even with Rufus Sewell these are going to be bloody difficult to film accurately as there would be a huge amount of location work in very expensive locations - Venice for Dead Lagoon, the Vatican for Cabal, Naples for Cosi Fan Tutti and Sicily for Blood Rain. Zen isn't overly keen on police work and just wants a quiet life and the novels are as much a commentary on modern Italy and its diverse regions as detective stories.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by HotRats

you can get them from http://www.discshop.se/shop/search_s...&sok_typ=titel

It should be noted that Discshop only ships to countries within the European Union.

[monkeywonder]

I have the blu ray set and disappointingly like most of the BBC output on Blu it is 1080i/50, it also has SD extras that are in PAL if that's a problem. I was a bit disappointed with the quality as I was expecting more of an upgrade over the HD TV broadcast, but having said that they do look very good, especially the later ones. I liked the series a lot though I can understand some of criticisms of the pacing, predictability and Branagh is always a divisive actor I suppose.

[DJANGO]

OK, so the blurayregincode site tells me WALLENDER is Region Free (but 50 hz) - now, does that mean I can play these on my Region A player, only play the show and not the extra stuff, is there a menue I need to get around in some way or another; what exactly does this mean - sorry to be uninformed, but can someone help me understand what is what . . .

[Spence]

Hello! This is my first post, so please be kind

I'm eyeing this (and other releases like Rome) via amazon-uk. I have a Samsung BD-P1500, so that means I'm ok with the 50hz stuff, right? As long as any blu I import is not region B locked, it should play?


I have checked other posts. The one with the list of players that are ok with 50hz lists a BP-1500... I wasn't sure if that's the same thing as a BD-1500.



Thank you to anyone who helps me out!!! I love this site and visit every day.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by DJANGO

OK, so the blurayregincode site tells me WALLENDER is Region Free (but 50 hz) - now, does that mean I can play these on my Region A player, only play the show and not the extra stuff, is there a menue I need to get around in some way or another; what exactly does this mean - sorry to be uninformed, but can someone help me understand what is what . . .

In the case of Wallander, the program itself is 1080i/50Hz, so if you can't play 50Hz material, it won't work.

[Spence]

if you can't play 50Hz material, it won't work

Shouldn't be a problem with my BD-P1500. I'm going to wait another week or so before getting this one... LOST is coming and that is going to set me back a bit.

On a related note, I did download the theme tune to Wallander (by Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo) and it's quite lovely.

[malcy30]

I presume they BBC will be showing this in late April as the BD is out 7th May. Good to see that they are continuing the BD as seem to release very few of their dramas on it.
Have pre-ordered from Amazon who seem significantly cheaper than elsewhere.

[McCrutchy]

Read on the BBC that the first episode of Series 3, "An Event in Autumn", finally aired last night, so it looks like the current 23 July release date will stick for the Blu-ray release, as right now "The Dogs of Riga" would air next Sunday, and "Before the Frost" would air (presumably) on 22 July.



Wallander Series 3 Blu-ray PRE-ORDER

[James Luckard]

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[hagios]

I have the Wallander 1-3 bd set w/ Kenneth Branagh & enjoy these immensely! I wish they would make more.

Also got Wallander dvd 13 - 90-minute episodes w/ Krister Henriksson & enjoy these even more!!

I also got Henning Mankkell's Faceless Killers in softcover & I am reading it now(plan on getting all in the Wallander series, also have A Touch of Frost series-excellent), very enjoyable!!!

I am in the GB, nordic crime drama mode as of late. & I do highly recommend this genre!!!!(have all the A Touch Of Frost 1-15 on dvd, these r my favorite so far!!!) Luv also The Killing & The Bridge, highly recommend also. 2 the core.

[James Luckard]

I finally got the UK BDs and have watched series one and two.

Important question for anyone else who has them:

Is there an echo on the 5.1 track of series 2, episode 2, "The Man Who Smiled"?

It's really pronounced and runs through the whole episode. Every sound is repeated, muffled, a fraction of a second later.

Basically, the entire episode sounds like it's happening in a large metal building.

I had to watch the whole thing on the stereo track, which is normal.

I'm assuming the master they used was defective and every BD has this echo, but if mine alone is defective I'll try to get a replacement.

Thanks!!!

[McCrutchy]

Now available to pre-order below:



Out 4 July 2016.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Now available to pre-order below:



Out 4 July 2016.

So glad to see this. For the first time ever the show aired on PBS before BBC this month and I watched the first episode, The White Lioness, but was shocked to find it only ran 80 mins. I checked, and the BBC version a few weeks later was 89. PBS cut a whole lengthy sequence out of the middle for the US airing. I refused to watch the second and third episodes when they aired, equally butchered, on PBS. I don't know what version PBS is releasing on their DVD.

Glad to see this getting an uncut BD, had been checking Amazon.co.uk everyday for an announcement. Have been watching the UK versions, the last one was an intensely moving near-finale to the series, watching the final one tonight and expecting great things.

[James Luckard]

Anyone seen any info on the "Complete" set out that same day? It's listed as 8 discs, so I assume it's just all 4 season sets, with no exclusive material, but I'd love to know if it will have anything new.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

So glad to see this. For the first time ever the show aired on PBS before BBC this month and I watched the first episode, The White Lioness, but was shocked to find it only ran 80 mins. I checked, and the BBC version a few weeks later was 89. PBS cut a whole lengthy sequence out of the middle for the US airing. I refused to watch the second and third episodes when they aired, equally butchered, on PBS. I don't know what version PBS is releasing on their DVD.

Glad to see this getting an uncut BD, had been checking Amazon.co.uk everyday for an announcement. Have been watching the UK versions, the last one was an intensely moving near-finale to the series, watching the final one tonight and expecting great things.

This is now standard procedure for PBS, who apparently like to time compress UK TV on broadcast. It became big news when shows like Downton Abbey, (Inspector) Lewis and Sherlock arrived, and consumers apparently figured out that the episodes were cut. I believe the first PBS DVDs of Lewis indeed featured the PBS cuts, too. Thus now video versions offered by PBS Direct often state "Original UK Version" on the packaging.

In the case of Wallander, the series is broadcast on PBS, but released on video by BBC Worldwide (via Warner) in the US, so there is much less of a chance that the episodes would be substantially different. However, obviously they are converted to 60Hz, and only the second series was ever released on Blu-ray, with the third only being released on DVD, and currently, the fourth only available to pre-order on DVD.

As for the UK Complete Collection Blu-ray, it will almost certainly just be the separate releases housed in a slipcase or slipbox, with no additional exclusive content or bonus discs beyond what might be included on the upcoming standalone release of Series 4.

[McCrutchy]

It looks like there will be some extras on the forthcoming release:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/walla...-mankell-video

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/walla...r-ending-video

[hagios]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

It looks like there will be some extras on the forthcoming release:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/walla...-mankell-video

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/walla...r-ending-video

Looking forward to watching this!